Interruption in new councillor’s speech

By-election winner Geordie Rogers was making his first ever speech as a Wellington city councillor, talking about how young people struggle with unaffordable rent in the capital city. Halfway through he was cut off by an unidentified staff member saying they wished his rival won.

The close run by-election between Rogers and rival candidate Karl Tiefenbacher, who owns gelato business Kaffee Eis, saw Rogers win by just 45 votes in the final results.

The former Renters United president was two minutes into his maiden speech, talking about how young people struggle to afford to live in Wellington, when the interruption happened.

“I also had to watch some of my friends struggle to afford to study, and as they set aside their hopes and dreams to live paycheck to paycheck, because they love the city and–” Rogers was saying.

“I’d rather have the other guy. He at least ran a business,” cut across an unidentified male voice, booming into the council meeting at full volume.

“Can we cut him off please?” asked mayor Tory Whanau.

The voice fell silent, followed by the ping of a Microsoft Teams message.

It appeared that a council staff member on the call had forgotten to mute themselves and spoke without realising the whole meeting could hear.

Spokesperson Victoria Barton-Chapple said it was a staff matter which would be dealt with internally.

“We will not be commenting further on this.” The video of the council meeting was removed from YouTube and has since been reuploaded with the interruption edited out.

Rogers launched back into his speech without commenting on the interruption, faltering only briefly.

“Umm ... and it is all of those things that made me stand for issues that I am passionate about.”

Later in the afternoon he was emailed by council staff and asked not to comment on the interruption. “I have to refrain from making a comment,” he said.

In the rest of Rogers’ maiden speech he said the council provides “so much more” than 400 services.

“It can be the difference between living in cold, damp and expensive flats or living in warm, dry affordable homes.

“It can be the difference between wading through the streets in your gumboots or having a city that responds to the climate crisis and adapts to the way that we need to live. It can also be the difference between losing hope in our city.”

Addressing the climate crisis would be “incredibly difficult”, Rogers said. But at the city council he was surrounded by people who could make a difference, he believed.

“I have never felt less alone in trying to make Pōneke the best city in Aotearoa. I think everyone is unified in that vision.”

He would not take the role lightly, saying the job of councillor was one that everyone had to earn.

After Rogers’ speech councillors and staff sung the waiata Purea Nei, with councillor Nīkau Wi Neera leading them on the guitar.